Gun sales across the country have skyrocketed in the last few years. In 2020, 21 million guns were purchased across the country, a record figure spanning decades of available data. In 2021, sales fell slightly, to 19 million, according to estimates from SafeHome.org. The previous record was set in 2016, when 16 million guns were sold to Americans. While firearm sales continue at this historic pace the share of households with one or more firearms, based on a Gallup poll, spiked from 37% to 45% between 2019 and last year. (Also check out: these are the Americans who own the most guns.)
This trend, which brought in record shattering revenue for many of America’s largest gunmakers, was fueled by a combination of factors. One study found that these included a loss of trust and heightened anxiety as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the most popular guns sold last year, Americans seem to bbe looking for models specifically designed for home defense and personal protection.
Using a report from Gungenius, which uses data from Gunbroker.com, an online firearm sales marketplace, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 22 most popular guns in America. Firearm models are ranked by 2022 sales, the most recent available, reported by the online platform, though exact sales numbers were not provided.
Handguns – a category that includes both pistols and revolvers – are easily the most popular type of firearm in the U.S. Licensed gun makers in the U.S. produced over 21.7 million handguns between 2016 and 2020, nearly double the 11.1 million rifles produced over the previous five-year period, according to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Tobacco data. Not surprisingly, over half of the best-selling firearms in the U.S. in 2022 were handguns.
Handguns are popular not only as home defense weapons, but are also well suited to personal protection and self-defense. Several of the pistols on this list are marketed explicitly as concealed carry weapons. (Here is a look at America’s top pistol companies.)
Shotguns are another firearm category often purchased for home defense. Three of the firearm models on this list are shotguns, including the Mossberg 590, a model marketed exclusively as a tactical firearm. The two other shotguns on this list, the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870, are perennial favorites among American gun owners, each selling over 10 million units since their introduction over half a century ago. (These are the most popular American-made guns abroad.)
Click here to see guns with the most online sales in 2022.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
Source: Courtesy of O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc.
22. Mossberg 500
> Approx. base price: $431
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting, home defense
> Available caliber(s) include: 12 ga, 20 ga, .410 bore
> Parent company: O.F. Mossberg & Sons Inc.
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 2,223,241 (4.7% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: North Haven, CT
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Source: Courtesy of Henry USA
21. Henry Repeating Arms Big Boy
> Approx. base price: $945
> Popular usages: Hunting, home defense, collecting
> Available caliber(s) include: .357 Mag., .41 Rem. Mag., .44 Mag., .327 Federal Mag., .44 Mag.
> Parent company: Henry RAC Holding Corp.
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 1,378,544 (2.9% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: Bayonne, NJ
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20. Glock G17
> Approx. base price: $599
> Popular usages: Military, law enforcement, self defense, home defense, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: 9mm
> Parent company: Glock Inc.
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 1,510,437 (3.2% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: Smyrna, GA
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
19. Ruger Mini-14
> Approx. base price: $999
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting, home defense
> Available caliber(s) include: .223, .300
> Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 8,166,448 (17.1% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: Southport, CT
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18. Winchester 70
> Approx. base price: $1,280
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: .243, .270, .338 Win. Mag., .300, .308, .30-06,
> Parent company: Herstal Group
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: N/A
> Parent company US headquarters: New Haven, CT (Winchester)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
17. CZ-USA CZ 75
> Approx. base price: $799
> Popular usages: Military, law enforcement, self defense, home defense, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: 9mm
> Parent company: Colt CZ Group
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: N/A
> Parent company US headquarters: Kansas City, KS (CZ-USA)
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Source: Courtesy of Springfield Armory
16. Springfield Armory Hellcat
> Approx. base price: $569
> Popular usages: Concealed carry, self defense, home defense, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: 9mm
> Parent company: Springfield, Inc.
> Parent company domestic pistol production 2016-2020: 690,180 (3.3% of all U.S. made pistols)
> Parent company US headquarters: Geneseo, IL
15. Sig Sauer P226
> Approx. base price: $830
> Popular usages: Military, law enforcement, self defense, home defense, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: 9mm, .357 SIG, .40
> Parent company: Sig Sauer Inc.
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 3,660,629 (7.7% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: Newington, NH
Source: Courtesy of Sturm, Ruger & Co.
14. Ruger Mark IV
> Approx. base price: $559
> Popular usages: Target shooting, home defense
> Available caliber(s) include: .22 LR
> Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 8,166,448 (17.1% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: Southport, CT
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13. Colt Python
> Approx. base price: $1,499
> Popular usages: Military, law enforcement, self defense, home defense, target shooting, collecting
> Available caliber(s) include: .357 Mag.
> Parent company: Colt CZ Group
> Parent company domestic revolver production 2016-2020: 81,209 (2.1% of all U.S. made revolvers)
> Parent company US headquarters: Hartford, CT (Colt)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
12. Beretta 90
> Approx. base price: $548
> Popular usages: Military, law enforcement, self defense, home defense, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: 9mm
> Parent company: Beretta Holding
> Parent company domestic pistol production 2016-2020: 328,389 (1.5% of all U.S. made pistols)
> Parent company US headquarters: Accokeek, MD
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Source: Courtesy of US Glock
11. Glock G43
> Approx. base price: $538
> Popular usages: Concealed carry, self defense, home defense, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: 9mm
> Parent company: Glock Inc.
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 1,510,437 (3.2% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: Smyrna, GA
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
10. Springfield Armory XD
> Approx. base price: $618
> Popular usages: Concealed carry, self defense, home defense, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: 9mm, .40, .45
> Parent company: Springfield, Inc.
> Parent company domestic pistol production 2016-2020: 690,180 (3.3% of all U.S. made pistols)
> Parent company US headquarters: Geneseo, IL
9. Ruger American
> Approx. base price: $489
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: .223, .243, .270, .308, .30-06
> Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 8,166,448 (17.1% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: Southport, CT
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8. Glock G19
> Approx. base price: $779
> Popular usages: Military, law enforcement, Concealed carry, self defense, home defense, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: 9mm
> Parent company: Glock Inc.
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 1,510,437 (3.2% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: Smyrna, GA
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
7. Remington 870
> Approx. base price: $390
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting, military, law enforcement, home defense
> Available caliber(s) include: 12 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga, .410 bore
> Parent company: Freedom Group/Remington Outdoor Company
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 3,045,427 (6.4% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: LaGrange, GA
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Source: marine_corps / Flickr
6. Mossberg 590
> Approx. base price: $699
> Popular usages: Home defense, military, law enforcement
> Available caliber(s) include: 12 ga
> Parent company: O.F. Mossberg & Sons Inc.
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 2,223,241 (4.7% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: North Haven, CT
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5. Ruger 10/22
> Approx. base price: $309
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: .22 LR
> Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 8,166,448 (17.1% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: Southport, CT
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
4. Smith & Wesson M&P9
> Approx. base price: $499
> Popular usages: Concealed carry, military, law enforcement, self defense, home defense, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: 9mm
> Parent company: Smith & Wesson Corp.
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 8,218,199 (17.2% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: Springfield, MA
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Source: Courtesy of Sig Sauer
3. Sig Sauer P365
> Approx. base price: $500
> Popular usages: Concealed carry, law enforcement, self defense, home defense, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: 9mm
> Parent company: Sig Sauer Inc.
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 3,660,629 (7.7% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: Newington, NH
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
2. Remington 700
> Approx. base price: $500
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: .223, .260, .270, .308, .30-06
> Parent company: Freedom Group/Remington Outdoor Company
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 3,045,427 (6.4% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: LaGrange, GA
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Source: Sig Sauer
1. Sig Sauer P320
> Approx. base price: $580
> Popular usages: Military, law enforcement, self defense, home defense, target shooting
> Available caliber(s) include: 9mm, .357 SIG, .40, .45 ACP
> Parent company: Sig Sauer Inc.
> Parent company domestic firearm production 2016-2020: 3,660,629 (7.7% of all U.S. made firearms)
> Parent company US headquarters: Newington, NH
Methodology
To identify the best selling guns in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a report from Gungenius, which uses data from Gunbroker.com, an online firearm sales platform. The model or model families that make up the guns on this list are ranked by their 2022 unit sales on Gunbroker.com.
Data on 2016-2020 U.S. gun manufacturing totals for the companies on this list is from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Tobacco. Comprehensive domestic production data for the companies on this list is for all firearms, unless otherwise noted. For some companies, production data is limited to the firearm category of the model in question.
Approximate base price for each firearm is from the manufacturer’s website when possible, and in some cases, from online gun retailers. Many of the model families on this list have variations that are far more expensive than the price listed in this story, however.
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